Why was this project necessary?
A fixture was required to test a novel medical device featuring a low-noise signal chain and external signal outputs. The fixture also needed a cast-in-place acoustic driver to replicate the anatomy and characteristics of a human heartbeat. Additionally, it had to accommodate clamping operations for secure testing.
What went well and what was lacking?
The fixture shown above is fully manufacturable in-house and incorporates several print-in-place features, including brass contact pads to simplify assembly. Shielded wires from the contact pads terminate at banana jacks, which share a common ground across all signal outputs. However, because the device’s piezoelectric element does not always sit completely flat on a patient’s chest, an adjustable feature was required to modify the angle of the test setup. The fixture below was specifically designed to address this need.
